</font></u><font color="#0000FF"><u><font size="4">NEWS
ARTICLES ABOUT THE NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS ARE POSTED DAILY AND
UPDATES ARE ADDED THROUGHOUT THE DAY. GENERAL SPORTS NEWS LINKS ARE
ALSO INCLUDED.

"The stories, random and unusual, are abundant. They range from climbing
flagpoles to back flips — a multitude of ways in which David Wilson, the Giants (http://www.nj.com/giants/)’ latest first-round pick, exerts a
seemingly endless amount of energy.

Wilson’s first energy outlet was football, which he began to play at age
8.</p>

When he arrived at George Washington High School in Danville, Va., Dan
Newell, then the head football coach, didn’t see much of a football player.
Wilson was fast, one the fastest on the team as a freshman, but too small, at
155 pounds.</p>

That changed when Wilson took to the weight room and, in combination with his
training on the track team, had his body develop. </p>

He had a standout junior season when he rushed for 1,500 yards, splitting
carries, and the scholarship offers began to roll in, the first from Maryland on
Christmas Eve. </p>

“David was surprised,” said Newell, now the offensive coordinator at nearby
Averett University. “He thought it was the biggest thing. He never thought he
was going to be a big-time recruit. I told him it was just the beginning.”</p>

RUNNING START</p>

By his senior season, he weighed 195 pounds and rushed for a school-record
2,291 yards and 35 touchdowns as the feature back.</p>

Three years later, Wilson was doing the same at the collegiate level as a
junior at Virginia Tech. There was the run against Clemson in which he took a
handoff and was chased 25 yards behind the line of scrimmage before running 44
yards for a 19-yard gain. </p>

Then there was the run against Boston College, which left Virginia Tech
running backs coach Shane Beamer in awe. It was just a 10-yard carry, but after
7 yards Wilson had four defenders draped over him. Then, “it looked like a bomb
went off,” Beamer said, and Wilson left the four on the ground to add 3 more
yards.</p>

But as in high school, Wilson had to bide his time in Blacksburg.</p>

When he arrived the plan was to redshirt his freshman season because of the
considerable depth at running back. But when Darren Evans — now on the Colts —
blew out his knee, he was needed as the backup to Ryan Williams, now on the
Cardinals. As a sophomore, he was Evans’ backup.</p>

He made an impact in the return game, but his time out of the backfield was
limited. </p>

“There were times when he first went to Virginia Tech and he didn’t play a
lot that he felt a little discouraged, but he would still work hard and finally
he got his chance,” said his mother Sheila, a kindergarten teacher.
</p>With that chance in 2011, the 5-10, 205-pounder set the Hokies’ all-time
single-season rushing record (1,709), led the nation in yards after contact and
scored nine touchdowns. He was named the ACC Overall and Offensive Player of the
Year and a second-team All-American.

“Nothing David accomplished this fall surprised me,” Beamer said. “We knew
the kind of potential he had, the kind of player he was. It was just a matter of
getting the carries.”</p>

TWO TRACKS</p>

Wilson had plenty of surplus stamina to tackle track in his spare time.</p>

At high school track meets, coach Jackie Harris entered Wilson in as many as
seven events to not only win, but also to counter his energy and acrobatics,
which he shows off in a 21-back-flip routine now on YouTube. </p>

“I did it because he was so hyper,” Harris said. “He’d climb up poles, up
buildings. It was unreal.”</p>

His best event was the triple jump and at the NIKE Indoor Nationals his
junior year, he set a personal record — jumping over 50 feet for the first time
— to win. He returned the next year and won again, setting a meet record of 51
feet, 5¾ inches.</p>

At Virginia Tech he became an All-American triple-jumper. He also was the
first leg of the Hokies’ 4x100-meter relay team.</p>

“The Olympics would be possible if he didn’t have football,” Virginia Tech
track and field coach Charles Foster said about the triple jump. “If he lost the
extra weight he needs for football, kept his strength and worked on his
refinements, he would be a monster.”</p>

In the classroom, he made the ACC Academic Honor Roll twice and attended
every class in a dress shirt and tie, a routine he began his senior year of high
school. </p>

“I just feel like people looked at me differently when I dressed up,” he
said. “I even wore a shirt and tie to the Combine.”</p>

HOME TEAM ADVANTAGE</p>

After declaring for the draft as a junior, Wilson only met with the Giants
once, during the NFL Scouting Combine in February, and didn’t he think he was on
their radar. His agent had been in contact with the team, however, and told
Wilson that he could slip into the first round.</p>

The uncertainty was why Wilson didn’t want a draft-day party. He decided to
watch the draft only with his immediate family — his parents, brother and sister
— at home. With 11 aunts and uncles and 37 cousins on his father’s side alone,
he wanted to keep the occasion low-key; it could easily have turned into a
two-night event, the first ending in disappointment. </p>

He wasn’t a surefire first-round pick because concerns lingered, the most
pressing being ball security. Wilson fumbled seven times in 2011. Beamer, the
running backs coach, said it was a matter of Wilson being too relentless and
refusing to go down when he should.</p>

“I think it’s going to be an easy problem to fix,” Wilson said. “I just had
some bad luck in college.”</p>

He now joins a backfield led by Ahmad Bradshaw and sees an opportunity to
contribute with Brandon Jacobs’ departure, in addition to the return game.</p>

“The team is kind of like what I come from and how I play the game,” he said.
“I think it’s a good fit.”</p>

His father, Dwight, believes it is, too. Dwight isn’t a fan of a particular
team, but two fan bases irk him: those of the Cowboys and Redskins. </p>

“It’s not the teams; it’s the fans that I don’t like,” Dwight said. “I wasn’t
a big football fan and they used to beat me up every Monday for those two teams
because I never really watched.”</p>

His son will have plenty in the tank to counter on the field four times a
season — he’ll just look to be quicker than the rabbit."</p>NFL DRAFT 2012: GIANTS SIGN FORMER RUTGERS' FULLBACK JOE MARTINEK (http://www.nj.com/sports/nfldraft/index.ssf/2012/04/nfl_draft_2012_giants_sign_for.html)

"The Giants (http://www.nj.com/giants/) signed 10 undrafted free
agents immediately following the conclusion of the draft and one of them is Rutgers (http://www.nj.com/rutgers/) fullback Joe Martinek, who tweeted
the news. Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross confirmed the signing.
The 6-foot, 224-pounder ran a 4.5 40-yard-dash at Rutgers' pro day after
catching 27 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown in addition to 24 rushes for
123 yards in 2011.

"We had him at the local day," Ross said. "We’ve been
to tons of Rutgers games. He’s just a gritty, hard-nosed football player. He’s
played fullback, he’s played running back, done whatever they asked. He worked
out really well. Can really catch the ball. A guy you can throw in at any
position there in the backfield and he’ll not miss a beat."
</p>NFL DRAFT ENDS; OSI UMENYIORA REMAINS WITH GIANTS; UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS (http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2012/04/nfl_draft_ends_and_osi_umenyio.html)

"The NFL Draft (http://www.nj.com/sports/nfldraft/) came and went.
And Osi Umenyiora remains a Giant (http://www.nj.com/giants/).<div class="entry-content">

“All options are open with respect to that,” general manager Jerry Reese said
when asked if any deals had been discussed. “Our first choice with respect to
Osi is he plays for the Giants and retires a Giant.”</p>

Reading between the lines of Reese’s non-denial/non-confirmation, it sounds
like the Giants at least listened to, or explored, offers for Umenyiora. Perhaps
there were some contingencies involved, such as whether the Giants or another
team would draft a pass rusher.</p>

But nothing materialized and the standoff will continue. Reese said Umenyiora
was offered a new contract both last year and this offseason. Umenyiora has
turned down all offers.</p>

“We’d still like to make it work,” Reese said. “But all of our options are
always open.”

"The war between Osi Umenyiora (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Osi+Umenyiora) and <a title="Jerry Reese" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Jerry+Reese">Jerry
Reese</a> is heating up again.

One day after the Giants’ GM insisted the team
has offered Umenyiora a contract extension in each of the last two seasons, the
unhappy defensive end fired back, saying Reese was distorting the truth to make
him look like “a greedy pig.” In an email to the Daily News on Sunday, Umenyiora
said the Giants’ offer last summer wasn’t actually an extension, and their offer
this year wasn’t much of an offer at all. Umenyiora didn’t go as far as he did
last spring, when he accused Reese of being a liar in a court affidavit, but his
anger was still clear.
“Last year I was offered incentives. This year they
offered me in guaranteed money, HALF of what they just gave Kiwi guaranteed.
HALF,” Umenyiora wrote. “I’m not making that up. Then Jerry tells the world they
offered me an extension and I turned it down. And I look like a greedy pig for
turning it down. Hilarious.”
Mathias Kiwanuka (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Mathias+Kiwanuka)
recently got a three-year contract extension worth a total of $21.75 million
that included an $8.5 million signing bonus and $10.95 million in guaranteed
money. If Umenyiora really was offered “half” of that guaranteed money, it means
the Giants were only willing to guarantee about $5.5 million for him.
Clearly
they knew that wouldn’t get it done. Umenyiora, who is scheduled to make $3.975
million this year in the final year of a seven-year, $41.5 million extension he
signed in 2005, is seeking a deal worth an average of $10 million per year and
$15 million-$17 million in guaranteed money. For proof, in an interview on WFAN
last week, he pointed to recent contracts signed by Eagles defensive end Trent Cole (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Trent+Cole)
(four years, $48 million, $15 million guaranteed) and Colts <a title="Robert Mathis" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Robert+Mathis">defensive end Robert
Mathis</a> (four years, $36 million, $17 million guaranteed) as comparable
deals.
Last summer, after Umenyiora staged a one-day training camp holdout to
protest his contract, the 30-year-old did turn down the offer of incentives tied
to his sack numbers. He apparently got an offer of an actual extension recently,
following the 12 ½ sacks in 13 games he had in the 2011 season.
But the offer
clearly wasn’t good enough to rebuild the bridge between Umenyiora and the team
that was nearly torched last spring when, in a deposition as part of the NFL
players’ antitrust suit against the league during the lockout, the defensive end
accused Reese of lying to him. He claimed Reese reneged on a 2008 promise to
“either renegotiate my current contract so that it would be equal to that of the
top five defensive ends playing or (trade him) to a team that would do
that.”
According to a source close to the eight-year veteran, Umenyiora’s
anger bubbled over again on Sunday when he heard Reese say, “Osi has been
offered an extension two years in a row now.” Reese also said, “All options are
open” with Umenyiora, including a trade.
Whether Umenyiora now wants or will
demand a trade is not clear, because he has decided to stop talking about this
dispute in public. In his email to The News, he said “I will be going completely
silent after I send you this because it’s obvious talking does nothing!” As for
his specific plans, Umenyiora would only say “things will be very interesting,
that’s for sure.”</p>
##

“He was really into the character,” Peyton says, reminiscing about
the brothers’ famous Football Cops commercial for DirecTV last summer. “I never
knew he always wanted to be a cop.”

“I didn’t,” adds Eli, sitting next to
his brother. “I just wanted to have a moustache. A moustache does not grow well
with me.”

Maybe Eli can convince the producers of “Saturday Night Live”
to let him wear some more fake facial hair when he reports for work on Monday
for what he calls his next “challenge.”

Following in the footsteps of his
more gregarious brother, Eli will be rehearsing at Studio 8H in Manhattan all
this week preparing for his turn as host of NBC’s long-running comedy sketch
show on Saturday night.

At first glance, Eli doesn’t appear to be the
natural fit for that role like Peyton was when he hosted “SNL” in 2007. But
during an interview with the Daily News last week while taking a break from
filming another series of DirecTV commercials at the Steiner Studios in
Brooklyn, Peyton insisted Eli isn’t an unnatural fit at all. In fact, he
believes Eli will be a surprising success on the show because he has one key
quality:

An ability and willingness to make fun of himself on national
TV.

“The main thing I tried to do there, I told them I don’t take myself
very seriously and I’m not afraid to make fun of myself,” Peyton says. “I think
that’s kind of important on that show. You have to just kind of let them have at
it with you.”

Eli seems willing to do that. Despite his controlled and
sometimes boring public persona, his teammates have always said he’s a funny man
behind the scenes. Even Hall of Famer Deion Sanders (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Deion+Sanders) says he
saw signs of Eli’s comedic genius during the four days they worked on their
commercial together last week.

“He really is hilarious, man,” Sanders
says. “I can see what they’re saying now. His timing is impeccable. He’s
hilarious. He’s a professional. He threw some one-liners out there that are
really going to take this commercial to another level.”

Eli points out
that he’s no stranger to comedy, thanks to a long list of commercials during his
eight-year NFL career. The two-time Super Bowl MVP says he feels more
comfortable in front of a camera than ever before. He’s also learned things from
watching his brother, such as the importance of reading a script before shooting
starts and knowing when it’s OK to make up your own lines.

Eli says he
hasn’t seen the “SNL” script yet, but he’s gotten plenty of ideas for skits from
friends and teammates. Victor Cruz (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Victor+Cruz), for
example, would love to see Eli do a salsa. His old friends keep calling with
suggestions, too.

“My college buddies keep saying ‘This is something
that’s funny that happened to us. You should bring that in,’” Eli says. “Some of
them might be good suggestions. A lot are not.”

Peyton, who won’t be in
attendance on Saturday night because of a previous commitment, says he hasn’t
given Eli any ideas yet and really hasn’t spent much time helping Eli prepare
for the show at all. Most of their discussions, Peyton says, have been about how
“it’s easier to get tickets for a Super Bowl than it is for this.” An”SNL” host
only gets 10 to distribute to family and friends.

“I don’t think we’ve
had any film study, if that’s what you’re asking,” Peyton adds. “When I was
there I just kind of said ‘Just tell me where to line up.’ It’s the same
strategy (for Eli). You want to kind of get to know what they’re trying to do,
and be yourself as much as you can be.

“I will say it is very much like a
football week. You get there on a Monday and, not to use too many analogies, but
you put in the game plan, the plays you’re going to run, then you do double
practices.”

It was the same, sometimes tedious process during their
commercial shoot last week, but it all paid off when they shot their final
commercial together in just three takes. “It would’ve been even quicker if you
could memorize your lines,” Eli tells Peyton.

In the commercial,
scheduled to air this summer, Peyton is wearing his brand new Denver Broncos
uniform, while Eli is dressed in Giants blue. Both are clean shaven, much to
Eli’s dismay.

“Anytime I can put a mustache on, I’m all for it,” he
says.

“He means that,” Peyton adds.

Maybe he’ll get one to wear on
Saturday night."
</div>
REESE: "ALL OPTONS ARE OPEN" WITH OSI (http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/2012/04/reese-all-options-are-open-with-osi)

"UPDATED: With "full" UDFA list.

The NFL draft came and went and Osi Umenyiora is still with the
Giants.

At least for now.

Though the Giants did not trade their
unhappy defensive end during the three-day draft, Giants GM Jerry Reese would
not say whether or not they tried. He also indicated a trade could still happen
because, he said “All options are open with respect to that.”

“Our first
choice with respect to Osi is that he play for the Giants and retire a Giant,”
Reese said. “That’s what we’d like to happen. Osi has been offered an extension
two years in a row now. We’d still like to make it work. Hopefully it’ll work
out. But all of our options are always open.”

A source close to
Umenyiora disputed the notion that the Giants have made any real offers to
extend his contract the last two years. The source added that during this
offseason the two sides have had nothing but very preliminary discussions about
a new deal.

Umenyiora is due to make a salary of $3.975 million in 2012,
which is the last year of the seven-year, $41 million contract extension he
signed in 2005.
</p>

***
Let the UDFA parade begin

As soon as the draft
is over, NFL teams start working the phones to sign players they like that
weren’t drafted by any other teams. For the Giants, that frenzy lasted about 20
minutes until Marc Ross, the Giants’ director of college scouting, entered the
press room and declared “Yeah, we’re done.”

Unfortunately for me (and
you), the Giants won’t release the names yet. So I’m forced to find them for
myself. And thanks to a combination of reports, Tweets from signed players,
former college coaches and family members, we already have what is believed to
be the full list:.

McNeese St S Janzen Jackson

Rutgers FB Joe
Martinek

Louisiana Tech DE Matt Broha

Arizona WR David
Douglas

UMass WR Julian Talley

Miami DE Adewale Ojomo</p>

Miami S Jojo Nicolas</p>

Mary Hardin-Baylor WR Damian Davis</p>

Nebraska-Kearney OL Stephen Goodin</p>

Memphis G D'Angelo McCray

Keep in mind none of these "sigings" are
official yet, because physicals need to be taken and papers need to be signed.
Also, very often in the UDFA market a player says he "signed" and then it turns
out he was really just invited to a team's rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. In
other words, don't be surprised if this list changes."</p>A LOOK AT THE GIANTS' PICKS, 4 - 7 (http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/2012/04/a-look-at-the-giants-picks-rounds-4-7)

"The Giants selected four players in Day 3 of the NFL draft -- two in the
fourth round, none in the fifth and one each in the sixth and the seventh.
Here's a quick look at their selections.

<u>ADRIEN ROBINSON</u>

Pick: 4th
round (127th overall)

College:
Cincinnati

Position: Tight
end

Ht: 6-4, WT:
264

What you should know: He d***led scouts with his
workouts after an unproductive career at Cincinnati. He had just 12 catches for
183 yards last season, though, and caught only 29 passes in his career. He
wasn’t even invited to the NFL combine.

What they’re
saying: “We think this guy’s kind of JPP of tight ends. … We think he
can really come on and develop and be a terrific football player for us. … He’s
a really good athlete. He’s got those freakish athletic numbers and he hasn’t
scratched the surface yet.” – Giants GM Jerry Reese.

“He did an
outstanding job in his workouts. Doesn’t have much to show for his collegiate
career. Not many catches. Wasn’t used that much as a receiver. We think he can
develop.” – Giants coach Tom Coughlin.

<u>BRANDON
MOSLEY</u>

Pick: 4th round (131st
overall)

College:
Auburn

Position: Offensive
tackle

Ht: 6-5, WT:
318

What you should know: An athletic tackle who was
something of a late bloomer. He played defensive end and tight end in junior
college, before bulking up and converting to line at Auburn. Started all last
season at right tackle. Giants think he can play guard,
too.

What they’re saying: “Big, tough, smart. Just like
we like in our offensive linemen. He reminds us some of David Diehl. This guy
has a good concept. He understands and knows how to play.” –Reese

“He
has very good gym numbers. We think he has good flexibility. He may be a guy
that can handle learning both guard and tackle right away. … If he gets a chance
to put you on your back, he’ll do that.” -- Coughlin

<u>MATT
McCANTS</u>

Pick: 6th round (201st
overall)

College:
Alabama-Birmingham

Position: Offensive
tackle

Ht: 6-5, WT:
315

What you should know: A project tackle who was a
tuba player in high school before he joined the football team as a senior. He
started 42 games at left tackle for UAB in his career.

What
they’re saying: “Really a pleasant surprise when you watch him. You
have to look at him. If you do your home work and go and look at this guy, he’s
intriguing. Long, 36-inch arms. He’s 315 now. I think he’ll be 325 pounds in a
blink. Very interesting prospect for us. In a year or so he could really make
some headway and start (battling) for a spot in our starting lineup.”
–Reese

“Big, tall kid. He has great big long arms, almost 36-inch arms.
He has played on the left side. I kidded around with him about being
Secretariat. That he is not. But he has the height. He’s going to get bigger and
bigger. He’s going to give us some flexibility.” --
Coughlin

<u>MARKUS
KUHN</u>

Pick: 7th round (239th
overall)

College: North Carolina
State

Position: Defensive
tackle

Ht: 6-4, WT:
299

What you should know: A native of Germany, he’s
just the third European-trained player ever to be drafted by the
NFL.

What they’re saying: “He doesn’t have much of a
background in football, but he’s a gym rat. Big, strong tough. Great to put in
your D-line rotation. Obviously he’s still learning. He’s fun to watch. He’s the
Mitch Petrus of defensive tackles. He’s like a buzz saw.” -- Reese

“We
had (him) actually evaluated at a little higher level. You talk about gym
numbers, now, he’s got them all the way across the board. He is a physical
player. He’s a penetrator. I think he’s still learning the game and a lot of it
is in front of him.” -- Coughlin."</p>HOSLEY COULD BE GIANTS' VERSION OF PACMAN JONES (http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/2012/04/hosley-could-be-giants-version-of-pacman-jones)

"Jerry Reese meant it as a compliment and that’s the way Jayron Hosley took
it, even though the thought might make people cringe. Hosley, a cornerback from
Virginia Tech drafted in the third-round by the Giants, reminded Reese of a very
famous NFL cornerback.

He said Hosley is similar to Pacman
Jones.

Reese meant they were comparable on the field, of course, even
though Hosley reportedly failed a drug test at the NFL scouting combine in
February. That “mistake,” as he called it, caused him to fall farther than he
hoped in the NFL draft.

Still, despite the bad image Pacman Jones
creates, Hosley said “I think that’s a good comparison.” Like Jones, he’s a
small corner with large chip on his shoulder. Reese said Hosley has “athletic
arrogance”.

Said Hosley: “I think he said that good.”

“I
definitely have to go out there with confidence,” he said on Saturday, one day
after the Giants took him 94th overall. “I’m not a bigger guy so guys might see
me as a little vulnerable or the little guy. So I definitely I have to go out
there with a little aggression.

The word Tom
Coughlin preferred was “feisty” when he described the 5-10, 178-pound corner who
had nine interceptions for the Hokies in 2010. He had only three as a junior in
2011, though Coughlin said that was because opposing teams rarely threw in his
direction.

Hosley agreed with that assessment. In fact, he said that
contributed to his decision to leave Virginia Tech early.

“Truthfully I
felt like the college game was getting a little too easy for me,” he said. “I
wanted a challenge and it was more of a challenge in the NFL.”

Hosley
also had injury issues in college, including a lingering hamstring issue and a
concussion in the ACC championship game. That and his drop in production sent
his draft stock tumbling. Then came the failed drug test, after which he
reportedly wrote a letter to all 32 NFL teams apologizing for his
mistake.

He knew that was going to hurt his draft stock even
more.

“I definitely regret it,” he said. “But it’s something that’s in
the past and behind me. I’m working toward bettering myself and not letting
something like this happen again ever. They trusted me and I’m thankful for that
and I want to make this a worthy decision.”

Both Coughlin and Reese said
they talked to Hosley about the drug test. Coughlin said “we’re prepared to
address that professionally as well when we do get him here.”
“He knows
that’s a bad decision that he made,” Reese said, “and we expect better from
him.”

They seem to have very high expectations for Hosley, who was the
college roommate of the Giants’ first-round pick, Virginia Tech running back
David Wilson. He not only could fit into their rotation at cornerback, but Reese
mentioned he could help as a punt or kick returner, too.

Hosley, though,
clearly has his eyes on being an impact player on defense – just like Pacman
Jones was once.

“Pacman Jones is a tremendous player, minus the
off-field stuff,” Hosley said. “But he’s a tremendous player. When you watch him
on film he’s very sound in his technique. He’s aggressive, a smaller guy like
me. I kind of favor that.

“I think that’s a good comparison. I like to
compare myself to Asante Samuel, Pacman, Brandon Flowers. But I think that’s a
very good comparison.”
</p>http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giant (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants)</div>
</div></div></div><u><font size="4">NY POST</font></u>
<div><div><div><div>
GIANTS COMPARE TE FROM DRAFT TO PIERRE-PAUL (http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/giantsblog/giants_day_picks_at_nfl_draft_qFFoTnXgjeIlzRqVSvGi wO)

"It was not difficult to detect a theme as the Giants on Saturday finished up
their selections in the NFL Draft. Of their seven picks during the three-day
draft, five of them were used to take offensive players. <div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: left; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; COLOR: #000000; OVERFLOW: hidden; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none">

“It just so happened some of the best guys were offensive guys this time,’’
general manager Jerry Reese said.</p>

The Giants had two picks in the fourth round and they continued a trend by
selecting players to fill positions of need on their offense. They took Adrien
Robinson, a tight end from Cincinnati, with the 127th overall pick, then
selected Brandon Mosley, a big tackle from Auburn with the 131st overall
pick.</p>

A tight end was needed because the Giants lost two of them in Super Bowl
XLVI, when Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum each went down with a torn ACL.
Ballard may miss the entire 2012 season and Beckum could miss the first half of
the season. </p>

Robinson’s selection could be viewed as a reach; he is considered a
pass-catching tight end but he had very little production in college. He had 29
career repetitions and five touchdowns at Cincinnati, operating in an offense
that did not feature the tight end at all. He had 12 catches for 183 yards and
three touchdowns as a senior. He can be considered a developmental prospect, and
the Giants feel comfortable handing unpolished players over to Mike Pope, one of
the top tight ends coaches in the league. The Giants had Robinson in for a
predraft visit and rated him higher than many other teams.</p>

How high? Reese, noting Robinson’s long arms and athletic ability, called him
“kind of the JPP of tight ends,’’ referring to defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul,
who emerged last season as a Pro Bowl player. </p>

“We like those kind of people,’’ Reese said.</p>

Tom Coughlin said he believes Robinson has “untapped potential’’ but wouldn’t
go far as to use Pierre-Paul as a comparison. </p>

“I don’t know if [Robinson] does back flips, but he’s an athlete now,’’
Coughlin said.</p>

Mosley fills a need for depth at offensive tackle. He’s a 6-5, 318-pounder
from Coffeyville Junior College (former Giants running back Brandon Jacobs also
played there) who in two years at Auburn bulked up and moved from tight end into
a starting role at tackle. He’s projected to be a right tackle based on his size
and athletic ability but the Giants think he can move inside to guard and may
have him try multiple positions as a rookie. Mosley was a member of Auburn’s
2010 national championship team and in the past two seasons started 24 games at
right tackle. The Giants last year also used a fourth-round pick on a right
tackle prospect, James Brewer of Indiana, who spent his rookie season glued to
the bench.</p>

The Giants did not have a fifth-round pick; they traded it away to acquire
linebacker Keith Rivers from the Bengals. In the sixth round, the Giants took
another offensive tackle, Matt McCants of Alabama-Birmingham. Unlike Mosley,
McCants is a left tackle prospect who needs to add bulk and strength. He came to
football late, leaving the high school band as a tuba player in his senior year
to put on a helmet and shoulder pads. He was an immediate starter at UAB and
ended up starting 42 games at left tackle. According to the school notes, the
Alabama-Birmingham offensive line allowed 18 sacks on 440 pass plays and McCants
didn’t allow a one.</p>

Again, Reese fell in love with the fact McCants has very long arms. </p>

“Very interesting prospect for us,’’ Reese said, adding he believes “in a
year or so’’ McCants will be able to challenge for a starting spot.</p>

In the seventh round, the Giants took a chance on Markus Kuhn, a defensive
tackle from North Carolina State who was born and raised in Germany and started
one year in college. </p>

“He’s fun to watch,’’ said Reese, who added Kuhn is “the Mitch Petrus of
defensive tackles,’’ referring to the Giants aggressive young guard. “He’s like
a buzzsaw in there.’’</p></div>GIANTS 3RD-ROUND PICK FAILED DRUG TEST AT NFL COMBINE (http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/leap_of_faith_RXHBLk6HLywy3XFy0eM7dI)

"Jayron Holsey knew it would hurt him because that’s what happens when you
mess up on a job interview. Hosley attended the NFL Scouting Combine in
Indianapolis in February and, while there, failed a drug test. Not the way to
endear yourself to 32 possible future employers.<div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: left; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; COLOR: #000000; OVERFLOW: hidden; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none">

As the NFL Draft neared, Hosley, an undersized cornerback from Virginia Tech,
knew what to expect.</p>

“I knew there was going to be a fall. I didn’t know exactly where,’’ Hosley
said yesterday, the day after the Giants selected him in the third round. “With
the mistake I made, I accepted that. I was just looking forward to really anyone
giving me a call and giving me a chance, an opportunity to be a part of their
program.’’
</p>As it turned out, Hosley was one of only two defensive players taken by the
Giants, who used five of their seven picks to fortify spots on the offensive
side of the ball.<div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: left; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; COLOR: #000000; OVERFLOW: hidden; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none">

In the fourth round yesterday, they perhaps reached a bit for Cincinnati
tight end Adrien Robinson, who only had 29 career receptions operating in a
non-tight-end-friendly spread offense, but that didn’t stop general manager
Jerry Reese from stamping Robinson as “kind of the JPP of tight ends,’’
referring to Jason Pierre-Paul, the Giants’ man-child defensive end who last
season made the Pro Bowl in only his second NFL season.</p>

Robinson, you see, has extremely long arms and Reese thinks he has “a huge
upside” because of “freakish athletic numbers.’’ The Giants love to hand
unfinished products over to Mike Pope, considered perhaps the best tight ends
coach in the league.</p>

Later in the fourth round, the Giants took Brandon Mosley of Auburn, a right
tackle prospect who might also move inside to guard. In the sixth round, they
took another tackle, but this one, Matt McCants of Alabama-Birmingham, is a
former high school tuba player who came late to football and is a left-tackle
project.</p>

In the seventh, they took a shot with Markus Kuhn, a defensive tackle from
North Carolina State who was born and raised in Germany.</p>

Of all the picks, Hosley might be the one with the most risk-reward
potential. The Giants took him because they believe, although he is undersized
at 5-foot-10 and 178 pounds, he plays big and has the temperament to deal with
the league’s taller receivers. </p>

The failed drug test is a red flag, but, as Reese said, “He’s not the first
one to have a situation like that. He knows that’s a bad decision that he made
and we expect better from him.’’</p>

Hosley said: “I definitely regret it. But it’s something that’s in the past
and behind me. I’m working toward bettering myself and not letting something
like this happen again ever. They trusted me and I’m thankful for that and I
want to make this a worthy decision.’’</p>

The Giants, in 2008, took Mario Manningham in the third round after he failed
a drug test coming out of Michigan and Marc Ross, the team’s director of college
scouting, likened Manningham to Hosley.</p>

“This is Mario all over again,’’ Ross said. “First-round talent, get him at
the end of the third round.’’</p>

Reese described Hosley as having “athletic arrogance’’ and Hosley liked that
description.</p>

“I think he said it good,’’ Hosley said. “I’m not a bigger guy so guys might
see me as a little vulnerable. So definitely I have to go out there with a
little aggression, you know, kind of the little-man syndrome in that
sense.’’</p>

Hosley led the nation in interceptions in 2010 with nine, but opponents
stopped throwing at him and he dipped to three interceptions last season before
leaving school after his junior year.</p>

“Truthfully I felt like the college game was getting a little too easy for
me,’’ Hosley said. “I wanted a challenge and it was more of a challenge in the
NFL.’’</p>

GIANTS GM SAYS THEY'VE MADE OFFERS TO OSI FOR TWO YEARS (http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/giantsblog/giants_two_says_they_years_made_M8oct1Z3thI2FpZCsW vo8M)</p>

"The NFL Draft came and went and the Giants did not trade Osi Umenyiora. They
also did not select a pass rusher.</p>

Does this mean Umenyiora is staying put and will remain with the Giants to
complete his contract, which has one year left on the seven-year deal he signed
in December 2005?</p><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: left; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; COLOR: #000000; OVERFLOW: hidden; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none">

Asked if there were any trades explored during the draft for Umenyiora,
general manager Jerry Reese did not say yes and did not say no. </p>

“All options were explored with respect to that,’’ he said Saturday after the
Giants made their final pick. “Our first choice is he’ll play for the Giants and
retire as a Giant.’’</p>

Umenyiora is set to make $3.975 million this season and desperately wants a
new contract or a trade, a desire he made very public prior to last season and
reiterated again this past week. </p>

Reese said the Giants are open to giving Umenyiora more money. </p>

“Osi has been offered an extension two years in a row now,’’ Reese said.
“We’d still like to make it work.’</p>

Clearly, what the Giants offered is not close to what Umenyiora is seeking.
He wants a market-value deal in keeping with the top pass-rushing defensive ends
in the NFL." </p></div></div>RUTGERS' FULLBACK AMONG UNDRAFTED PLAYERS SIGNED BY GIANTS (http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/giantsblog/rutgers_fullback_among_undrafted_9DsSVsgOqVIbhBqsw m8ZkO)

"When the NFL Draft was complete and the Giants had taken their seven players,
their roster increased to 80. The league this year expanded the offseason roster
by 10 to 90, leaving the Giants with 10 spots to fill with undrafted free
agents. They were on the phones immediately after the seventh round and in less
than an hour agreed to contracts with all 10.<div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: left; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; COLOR: #000000; OVERFLOW: hidden; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none">

One of them played locally at Rutgers: Fullback Joe Martinek.</p>

“We have been at tons of Rutgers games,’’ said Marc Ross, the Giants director
of college scouting. “He is just a gritty, hard-nosed football player. He has
played fullback; he has played running back, done whatever they ask. He worked
out really well. He can really catch the ball; a guy that you can throw in at
any position there in the backfield and he will not miss a beat.’’</p>

Martinek will be among the rookies to attend the rookie minicamp May 11-13 at
the Giants Timex Performance Center practice facility. Based on various reports
and player messages on Twitter, the following players have also agreed to sign
with the Giants as undrafted free agents:</p>

Scouting report: Tied the school record with 10 100-yard performances,
including a string of seven consecutive games. … Produced 2,253 all-purpose
yards in 2011, an ACC junior record, topping Tiki Barber (1,906).</p>

Rueben Randle </p>

Position: WR</p>

College: LSU</p>

Height/Weight: 6-3/210</p>

Scouting report: Size and speed (low 4.4s in the 40 at his Pro Day) to slide
outside into spot vacated by Mario Manningham’s departure to San Francisco. …
Didn’t post staggering numbers as a junior (53 catches, 973 yards, 8 TD), but
shaky quarterback play likely contributed to that. … Was being considered by
Giants in the first round.</p>

Jayron Hosley </p>

Position: CB</p>

College: Virginia Tech</p>

Height/weight: 5-10/178</p>

Scouting report: Two-year starter with the Hokies battled hamstring and
concussion issues last season, but still led the ACC and was ranked 11th in the
nation as a punt returner (12.67-yard avg.). … Led the nation with nine
interceptions as a sophomore. … Failed a drug test at the Scouting Combine. Tom
Coughlin has spoken to Hosley and believes he will learn from the mistake.</p>

Adrien Robinson </p>

Position: Tight end</p>

College: Cincinnati</p>

Height/weight: 6-4/264</p>

Scouting report: Used primarily as a blocker in a spread offense, he caught
three TD passes, including a 72-yarder against Miami (Ohio) that was the longest
pass play for Cincinnati in 2011. … Was not invited to the Scouting Combine and
did not work out on his visit with the Giants, but was impressive enough at his
Pro Day to earn distinction as a possible sleeper.</p>

Brandon Mosley </p>

Position: Offensive tackle</p>

College: Auburn</p>

Height/weight: 6-5/318</p>

Scouting report: Came to Auburn as a tight end and switched to right tackle,
where he started the final 11 games of the 2010season in front of Cam Newton en
route to the BCS National Championship. … Mosley attended Coffeyville JC before
landing at Auburn, the same JUCO as Brandon Jacobs, who also ended up at Auburn
before transferring to Southern Illinois.</p>

Matt McCants </p>

Position: Offensive tackle</p>

College: UAB</p>

Height/weight: 6-5/309</p>

Scouting report: Lean frame for an offensive tackle with very long arms, but
will need to add weight. … Only played one season of high school football
because he played the tuba in the school band until his senior year.</p>

Markus Kuhn </p>

Position: DT</p>

College: N.C. State</p>

Height/weight: 6-5/299</p>

Scouting report: Played his high school ball in his native Germany. … Very
powerful; comes out of a compact stance and has shown good quickness off the
snap. … A longer term project that likely will max out as a rotational interior
lineman at best."</p>GIANTS REFILL THE BUCKET (http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/football/149403865_Giants_fill_the_cracks.html)

"The Giants insisted they never go into the NFL Draft looking for players to fill
specific holes on the field.<div id="storybody">

General manager Jerry Reese was adamant his "best player available"
philosophy rules all. Tom Coughlin agreed, insisting those responsible for
replenishing the roster would never tab someone to erase a vacancy if he was not
at the top of their board.</p>

So what happens when talent meets need, as it seems to have done for the
reigning Super Bowl champions this weekend – is it great scouting or incredible
luck?</p>

Surely it’s probably a little bit of both, but either way, the Giants were
thrilled with what they came away with as part of a seven-player haul at the
conclusion Saturday of this year’s festivities at Radio City Music Hall.</p>

Brandon Jacobs, Mario Manningham, Aaron Ross and Kareem McKenzie are gone
from the lineup that defeated the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, and in the span
of three days, with four of their first five picks, Big Blue landed their
replacements.</p>

The headliner of Saturday’s four-pick grab could end up being Cincinnati
tight end Adrien Robinson, a raw talent whose presence on the roster and
eventually the depth chart alongside Martellus Bennett should help compensate
for the loss of Jake Ballard (knee), quite possibly for the season.</p>

Reese heaped tremendous praise on him — bordering on a bit unrealistic, of
course – by comparing his untapped potential to that of All-Pro defensive end
Jason Pierre-Paul when he came out of South Florida two years ago.</p>

"We think this guy has a huge upside," Reese said. "Big, big man. Long arms.
He didn’t catch a lot of balls for them, but he’s kind of a late bloomer. He’s
really come on.</p>

"We think this guy is kind of the JPP of tight ends."</p>

The Giants also added 10 undrafted free agents Saturday night, which puts
them at the roster limit of 90, including former Rutgers fullback Joe
Martinek.</p>

Second-round selection Rueben Randle should get an opportunity to step right
into Manningham’s role and immediately contribute at wide receiver behind Hakeem
Nicks and Victor Cruz. First-rounder David Wilson bolsters a group of running
backs led by Ahmad Bradshaw. Third-rounder Jayron Hosley will be a playmaker in
the secondary.</p>

"We got some more firepower," Coughlin said.</p>

The draft concluded with defensive end Osi Umenyiora still with the Giants
despite his wishes for a trade and/or a contract extension, which he did not
receive. "All options are open with respect to that," Reese said."</p></div>http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/football/

"The <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with New York Giants" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/new-york-giants/" rel="tag nofollow">New York
Giants</a> drafted cornerback Jayron Hosley (http://www.giants101.com/2012/04/27/new-york-giants-select-cb-jayron-hosley-in-round-3-of-2012-nfl-draft/) out of Virginia Tech in the
third-round of the 2012 NFL (http://www.giants101.com/tag/nfl/) Draft. Immediately following the selection, General
Manager Jerry Reese referred to the rookie as "athletically arrogant," comparing
his on-field skill to that of Adam "Pacman" Jones.

As it turns out, Hosley fits that bill to perfection.</p>

In his very first conference call with the New York (http://www.giants101.com/tag/new-york/) media, Hosley said he left college early to
pursue a career in the NFL (http://www.giants101.com/tag/nfl/) because the game itself had started to become too
easy for him.</p>
<blockquote>

"Truthfully, I felt like the college game was getting a little too easy for
me," Hosley said. "I wanted a challenge and it was more of a challenge in the NFL (http://www.giants101.com/tag/nfl/)."</p></blockquote>

In 2010, Hosley led the nation with nine interceptions and followed it up
with another strong 2011 campaign, but opposing quarterbacks obviously tried a
little bit harder to stay away from him.</p>

Hosley hurt his draft stock by failing a drug test at the NFL (http://www.giants101.com/tag/nfl/) Combine
(marijuana), but following a conversation with Giants head coach Tom Coughlin,
the team felt confident that any issues Hosley had are a thing of the past. He
reaffirmed that on Friday night, saying he's working hard to better himself.</p>
<blockquote>

"I definitely regret it. But it’s something that’s in the past and behind
me," said Hosley.. "I’m working toward bettering myself and not letting
something like this happen again ever. They trusted me and I’m thankful for that
and I want to make this a worthy decision."</p></blockquote>

The 21-year-old certainly doesn't lack in confidence, and his track record
proves he doesn't lack in skill either. His success in the NFL (http://www.giants101.com/tag/nfl/) will solely
depend on his motivation, work-ethic and ability to avoid off-field
distraction."</p>

"The 2012 NFL (http://www.giants101.com/tag/nfl/) Draft has
come and gone, and defensive end <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with Osi Umenyiora" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/osi-umenyiora/" rel="tag nofollow">Osi
Umenyiora</a> remains a member of the <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with New York Giants" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/new-york-giants/" rel="tag nofollow">New York
Giants</a>. And if General Manager <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with Jerry Reese" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/jerry-reese/" rel="tag nofollow">Jerry
Reese</a> has anything to say about it, he'll retire as a member of the
Giants.
<blockquote>

“Our first choice with respect to Osi is that he will play for the Giants and
retire as a Giant,” Reese said on Saturday. “That is what we would like to
happen. Osi has been offered an extension two years in a row now. So we would
still like to make it work. Hopefully it will work out. But all of our options
are always open.”</p></blockquote>

Last Wednesday, Umenyiora said the two sides have had preliminary discussions (http://www.giants101.com/2012/04/25/new-york-giants-osi-umenyiora-doubts-hed-return-without-new-contract/) about a new contract, but that nothing
was imminent. He also noted that his contract, which was reportedly worth $41
million over seven years, was actually worth closer to $30 million. Had it been
worth the "misreported" $41 million, he and the Giants "wouldn't be in this
situation."</p>

Whatever the case may be, the Giants seem content in letting the situation
play itself out. They never engaged in any serious trade talks regarding Osi,
and are moving forward as if he'll be their defensive end this season. If
Umenyiora decides to leave once his contract expires -which he says he likely
would- then they'll simply collect a compensatory pick and move on."</p>GIANTS SIGN TEN UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS (http://www.giants101.com/2012/04/29/new-york-giants-sign-10-undrafted-rookie-free-agents/)

"The <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with New York Giants" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/new-york-giants/" rel="tag nofollow">New York
Giants</a> wasted absolutely no time filling their roster on Saturday evening,
immediately signing 10 undrafted rookie free agents following the conclusion of
the 2012 NFL (http://www.giants101.com/tag/nfl/) Draft.

"We had [Martinek] at the local day. We’ve been to tons of Rutgers games,"
Ross said. "He’s just a gritty, hard-nosed football (http://www.giants101.com/tag/football/) player. He’s played fullback, he’s played
running back, done whatever they asked. He worked out really well. Can really
catch the ball. A guy you can throw in at any position there in the backfield
and he’ll not miss a beat."</p></blockquote>

Jackson, meanwhile, has a ton of talent but comes with just as much baggage.
He was charged with armed robbery in 2009 (wasn't convicted) and has failed
multiple drug tests. But as an UDFA, there's little to no risk in bringing him
in for a try.</p>

Big Blue still needs a quarterback for rookie mini-camp, so it's likely
another move (swap) is on the horizon. As soon as it's made, Giants 101 will
have it for you."</p><a href="http://www.giants101.com/">http://www.giants101.com/
</a>
<u><font size="4">BIG BLUE VIEW</font></u><span id="entry_flag_counts_2011/12/23/2655531/friday-five-with-pat-traina-jets-giants-edition" class="flag-counts"><span class="light"></span> </span><span id="entry_flag_links_2011/12/23/2655531/friday-five-with-pat-traina-jets-giants-edition"></span>

"ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper does not hate the New York Giants (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/new-york-giants)
2012 NFL Draft class, but he does not love it, either. In handing out his annual
NFL Draft grades, Kiper has given the Giants a C+ (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2012/story/_/id/7823750/mel-kiper-gives-grades-every-nfl-team-draft).<div class="entry-body">

Wrote Kiper:</p>

"I had running back as the top need for the Giants, and they got one with
their first pick. David Wilson (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/152687/david-wilson)
should be productive, but I think they really would have preferred Doug Martin.
I might have gone with an O-lineman there, but the Giants have capably kept
things patched up for a couple years, and will have to continue to do so,
because they didn't get a tackle until the fourth round. Brandon Mosley has a
shot (he's the No. 13-ranked offensive tackle on my board), but you don't want
him starting in Week 1. Rueben Randle lacks explosiveness, but he was a pretty
good value as the last pick in Round 2. Clearly, the NFL thought he'd be gone
far higher -- he was the last player in the green room. Jayron Hosley is a
really instinctive corner, and I wouldn't have thought he'd still be around
based on his sophomore year. But he regressed in 2011. He can cover, but he
lacks a physical element to his game. Some helpful pieces, but Wilson needs to
provide impact."</p>
<p class="extend-divide"><a name="storyjump"></a>http://cdn1.sbnation.com/images/blog/star-divide.v5e9d7f1.jpg</p>

Clearly, Kiper is right that the Giants would have selected Martin if Tampa
Bay had not. General manager Jerry Reese admitted there was one running back on
the Giants draft board rated higher than Wilson after Alabama's Trent Richardson
was taken, and that can only be Martin.</p>

In the end, we know these grades mean nothing. We just have to wait and see
how everything turns out."</p></div> (http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/4/29/2986290/2012-nfl-draft-grades-mel-kiper-new-york-giants)ADRIEN ROBINSON: "SKY'S THE LIMIT" FOR GIANTS' 4TH-ROUND CHOICE (http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/4/29/2986157/adrien-robinson-new-york-giants-2012-nfl-draft-marc-ross-jerry-reese-tom-coughlin)